The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-07
THE QUAKERS IN INDIANA
Their First Settlement in the West and
Their Wonderful Growth in Number.
Customs of the Orthodox and COnserva-
tive Factions Of the Cburch-PrOposed
Changes That Are Being Discussed.

The Society OF Friends or Quakers. az they
are usually called. instead of diminishing in
numbers in the localities in Indiana
where IL has always been strong.
10 increasing rapidly than ever
before The Quaker of to-day. however, il
not the Quaker of ten, fifteen and twenty years
ago. The original settlement in the Ohio valley
came from Pennsylvania eighty years ago, when
the men wore hats Of tho broadbrim style. fash
toned after the head covering brought from
England by William Penn. The sect arose
about the beginning Of the seventeenth century,
with George Fox the founder. There is a trsdi
tion among them to how they received the
name "Quakers" AS 1t runs, George Fox in
1850 was arrested aud taken before the justice OF
the peace in Derbyshire. and tried for preaching
his new doctrine. In derision of his admonition
TO the justices to ''tremble at the word of God"
he was called quaker" This appeation be-
came general soon after that time, though the
followers of Fox then took and still maintain
the title of Society Of Friends"
Richmond, this State, was the first settlement
made in the West by the Quakers, and it soon
became the head center of the colonies
established by the church. The annual
ference held there is known the Indiana
Yearly Meeting. Thirty-fve years ago the rep
resentation at the meeting became so large that
1t deemed best to establish the Western
Yearly Meeting, which now has a membership
of Is. 900, and embraces the northern part of
Michigan. the eastern half of Illinois, and the
western half of Indiana The annual sessions
are held at Plainfeld. twelve miles west of this
city, in September of each year, and are attended
by delegates from conferences all over the
world.
Several years ago there was a great disrup-
ton in the society the question of admitting
organs and allowing singing IN the church. The
difficulty caused divlsion-the two factions be-
coming known as the Orthodox aud the Conser-
vative Friends. The former advocate the idea
of allowing Instrumental and vocal music, and
modern notions in regard to dress, while the
latter hold to the customs of their forefathers.
The orthodox division has much the larger
membership and after a long process Of law they
possess the immense worshiping sdifice at
PIainfield, capable of seating nearly four thou
sand people. Plainfeld possesses the only orig
ipal society of the orthodox Quakers in
the State. They hold their services in
. small brick structure three miles
south Of the town 1t Is at their meeting that
the traditional Quaker worship can be seen. the
gathering is omDosed Of seventy plain men and
women; there is carved pulpit, hired
preacher, with dreary sermon, organ, no
inattentive choir no bread and wine. ushers
and collection box-nothing but plain benches
and silent worshipers. waiting for the spirit to
touch their hearts and open their lips The men
always sit with their hats on, partitioned off
from the women. The women dressed in
plain drab and wear the old time SHUTTLE shaped
bonnets. The congregation OF these sold
fogies, as they termed By the "fast" Quak-
ers, often sit in patient waiting hour for the
spirit to move their hearts to utterance
Monthly meetings maintain the discipline of
both divisions OF the society. They made up
of an aggregation Of several particular congrega-
tions. 1t is the duty of these meetings to pro-
vide for the keeping of the poor, and the educa-
ton of their children; also, to judge of the sim
certify and fitness of persons desiring to be ad-
mitted to membership. When any member has
been guilty of misconduct committee is ap-
y al 6w~A hA via h.
try to convince him Of mis- error aud induce him
TO forsake it. If they succeed he is retained in
the church; otherwise he is dismissed from the
society. 1t is seldom that any ceremony is held
ct the burial OF q member of the church. The
women have monthly, quarterly and yearly
meetings of their own. but they are without the
power OF making rules the members of the
conservative branch of this society bound
by thelr principles to abstain entirely from
excess in eating drinking; from public dem
constructions; from the reading Of useless aud
frivolous books; from gaming of every descrip-
ton; from engaging in vain sports such as hunt
ing and shooting, and from all Improbable
amusements, among which classed music
and dancing. Though many of these rules are
retained In the discipline of the orthodox di-
vision. they are very loosely observed. The
whole Quaker Church declare most sweeping
condemnation against wars, which they hold to
be altogether inconsistent with the spirit and
precspts Of tina gospel They object on the same
principle to capital punishment. They do not
sanction holidays of any kind.
teresting. Those who desire to marry appear
together and state their intention OF the
monthly meetings, and if not attended by
parents or guardians must present their consent
In writing duly witnessed. IL no objections
raised at subsequent meeting they allowed
70 sclmenize their marriage which is done at
public meeting for worship, toward the close of
which the parties stand up and solemnly take
each other for man and wife certificate of
the proceednRsi is then publicly read and signed
by the contracting parties, and after ward by the
relatives as witnesses. A register of the births,
marriages and funerals of the society is kept by
the monthly meetings
The Methodists claim that the orthodox
Friends in the West rapidly adopting their
methods and are following but o short way be-
hind them. Until recently baptism was never
thought Of in the church Murray Shipley, the
most prominent Quaker preacher in Cincinnati
was baptized a few years ago. while travelling in
Europe. During the last few years the
school OF Quakers led by several prominent
ministers in the Ohio Yearly Meeting, have
created quite disturbance and some dissensien
freedom Of belief in regard A' to the ft OBJ.
servance OF the ordinances OF baptism
and the Lords supper. In the Ohio Yearly
Meeting division caused over this lques-
ton, and the same thing caused q considerable
stir at the session OF the Western Yearly Meet
ing at Planfeld, when q colored delegate from
the Ohio conference was denied the freedom of
his views regarding the question OF baptism.
This years session Of the annual meeting prom
lees TO DO an interesting one on account Of the
new questions, which are finding numerous con-
verts in the church, especially among the
younger members.
The orthodox Friends still maintain the rigid
peculiaralities OF speech which Fox and Penn
added to their religious sentiments. They also
still believe themselves forbidden by Divine
command to take off their hat TO any one or ad-
dress any one except IN the thee and thou"
style. They object to all titles of honor
The church has always been strongly opposed
TO a salaried ministry. Tho orthodox division
introduced the revival system two or three
years ago. and the Western Yearly Meeting is
greatly indebted TO 1t for It's large membership.